Expansion joint or coupling



J. SLOMER.

EXPANSION JOINT OR COUPLING.

APPLICATLQN FILED MAY 2. I919.

Patented Feb. 22,1921.

2 SHEETSQSHEET rau? I J. SLOMER. EXPANSION JOINT'OR COUPLING.

APPLICATION meg MAY-2. 1919.

Patented Feb. 22,1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- ful Improvements in iii-TED A ENT OFFICE JOSEPH SLOMER, or WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, essieivon 'ro c cLoivE or WA'D'KEGAN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF'ILLINoIs;

Application filed May 2, 1919. Serial No. 294,244.:

This invention relates to improvements in expansion joints or couplings for use particularly inconnection with metal fences, partitions, hand railings, and the like.

The principal object of this inventlon s the provision of a coupling including resilient means locatedbetween the ends of the sectionsiof metal pipes, or rods, seas-to permit the expansion and contraction of the metal pipes, or rods, due to changes in temperature and climatic. conditions without undue pressure and end thrust which would result in buckling or bending of these parts. I

A further object of this invention is to provide a suitable joint, or'coupling of thischaracter, which will automatically ad ust itself properly in relation to the parts or sections to be coupled. r a I A. further object of this invention is the provision of a joint or coupling of this, character which may be quickly and readily applied and then securely held in proper position to function according to its purpose.

Other objects of this invention include improvements in details of construction and arrangement whereby a simple and effect ve device of this character is provided.

To the accomplishmentof the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the con-' struction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and then sought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part/hereof, which show merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure two embodiments of my invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various c anges may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digressing from my inventive idea.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents an elevation of part of a fence structure showing the aforesaid expansion joint or coupling in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of Specification of Letters Patent.

, to in any desired manner.

the expansion joint EXPANSION JOINT on COUPLING.

. PatentedlFeb,

the, joint .or coupling, parts being shown in longitudinal cross. section to facilitate the disclosure. 7.?

COMPANY,

Figs 3 is a :verticalltransver s'e section taken, substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

big-dis an elevational viewof a joint or coupling constructed in a'somewhat diflerent manner, from the drawings,

facilitate the disclosureta en substantially on line 5-5 ofF Fig. 6 is "a 'vertical transverse taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referringmowi to the drawings' the nu V ineral 10 designates a'general fencingstructure which includes the; vertical postslor that shown in Fig. 2of 1 parts of-this figure being" ,shown; in vertical. longitudinal section to Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section --section'- uprights 11 and the horizontal "and longitudinally extending: top railsystringersor fence' fabric" the like 12 By these parts the l3.is supported which'maybe securedthereorrails 12 are, usually formed in sections,

may be formed of a continuous piece secured :The top-members to: the verticalwmembers' llat' suitable-in-"" tervals. .:'In such constructions it is manifest that due to the expansiongand' contraction ofthe metal, under temperature variations" and climatic changes, that the line will bend or buckle, resulting in distortion of the fence structure and possible breaking down thereof. It is to prevent this that I provide indicated generally by the reference character 14 inFig. 1 of the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 2 and 3, it is seen that this coupling includes pled. This sleeve 15-is formed at an inter mediate point with the annular flange '16, which forms a shoulder'or abutment; Po

sitioned within the-sleeve are the coiled or spiral springs 17, one being positioned on and coupling which is the elongated sleeve part 515, the internal diameter of. o 95 each side of said flange or'abutment 16. These springs 17, are held in place by means of the disks or washers 18 which are connected together by means of the headed pin or'rivet 19. It is seen that when the coupling is in use the ends .of the adjacent pipes or rods bear against the disks orwashers 18 and that the springs 1 7 'will yield when the v rods or pipes temperature, it being recalled that the sleeve 12 expand under increase in 15 permit-s'movement therein of the rods or pipes12. It is therefore evident that the expansion and contraction of the pipes or rods 12, is permitted and without damage to the structure and the sections thereof are i climatic conditions. It "is seen,-

that this construction functions/the same as held in proper alinement at all times.

A slightly different embodiment of this invention is shown in Figs. 4:, 5 and 6 of the drawings. In these figures, the numeral 12 designates the pipeor rod, the ends of which are adapted to designates thecoupling sleeve. This sleeve is alsoprovided withithe inwardly converging annular flange forming a shoulder or abutment2l, against which is adapted to engage the end of one of the sections of rod or pipe 12, this'being shown to the left in Fi 4. 'On the other slde of the shoulder or abiitment 21 1 provide a circular groove 22, 5 which is adapted to'receive the end coil 23 of the coil spring2 l, it being understood that.

the end convolution, as shown particularly in Fig 6, of the drawings,-is of. a. greater diameter than the remalning convolutions of the springsothat the same may be forced held in'locki'ng position The other end of the into and resiliently withinthe groove 22.

- coil spring is in position to engage the end I, of thejother section of rod or pipe. 12, so

' asto permit 1ts movement'within' the sleeve" 7 20 under the lnfiuence of expansion and contraction, due to change'of temperature and therefore,

the other construction, but that itis merely a slightly different'means of carrying this idea into practical effect.

be connected, and 20- Having described my invention, what I claim is .1. A device of the character to receive the adjacent ends of a palrof pipes or rods, thesame being in spaced relation to each other, an abutment provided on said member. and a grooveprovided adja 'cent said abutment, a coil spring having one convolution adapted to fit insaid groove,

. described in cluding 1n combination, a member adaptedthe other end thereof being adaptedrto enf gage the end of one of said pipes or rods whereby the same "may expand and contract relative to the 'other'pi-pe orr'od and may move relative to said member.

receive the adjacent ends of a pair'of'pipes H 2. Adevice of the character described including in combination a sleeve adapted to or rods, the ends of said pipes or rods being normally in spaced relation, sald sleeve having an internal shoulder or abutment against' which the end of one of said pipesor rods engages, said sleeve also having a groove provided therein adjacent said abutment, a coiled spring having one'end convolution of greater diameter-than the other convolutions and fitting in said groove, said coiledspring or pipes whereby V tract with reference to the first 'mentioned rod or pipe and may move relative to said sleeve: r

' 3. A pipe connecting sleeve having an in 5 engaging the end of the other of said rods it may expand and-con 15 s side of the abutment connecting the l- Josnrn s oMER. V 

